Distraction
dɪˈstrækʃən
Definitions
2 meaningsA thing that prevents someone from concentrating on something else.
dɪˈstrækʃən
Something that takes your attention away.
The noisy construction site was a constant distraction.
💡 Simply: It's like when something grabs your attention and makes it hard to focus on what you're supposed to be doing. Imagine you're trying to read, but your phone keeps buzzing – that's a distraction!
👶 For kids: Something that makes you not pay attention.
More Examples
I try to avoid distractions when I'm working on an important project.
Her phone calls were a major distraction during the meeting.
How It's Used
"The loud music was a distraction during my study session."
"Constant email notifications are a major distraction."
The act of distracting someone or the state of being distracted.
dɪˈstrækʃən
The act of taking someone's attention away.
He used a loud shout as a distraction.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, you might purposefully use a distraction to throw someone off their game. Imagine you are playing hide and seek and you make a noise to create a distraction.
👶 For kids: When you make someone look away.
More Examples
The politician created a distraction from the scandal.
The aim of the maneuver was to create a distraction.
How It's Used
"The coach used a series of fake plays to create a distraction for the opposing team."
"The enemy launched a diversionary attack to create a distraction from their main objective."
Idioms & expressions
a moment's distraction
A brief lapse in attention.
"A moment's distraction can lead to mistakes."
From Middle English distraction, from Old French distraction, from Latin distractio (“a drawing apart, a division, a diversion”), from distractus, past participle of distrahere (“to draw apart, to distract”), from dis- (“apart”) + trahere (“to draw”).
The word 'distraction' has been used since the 14th century, initially to refer to the act of pulling someone apart or dividing their attention.
Memory tip
Think of a circus performer using a shiny object to DISTRACT you from the real trick.